What to do if…
officials contact you about a deceased person’s legal case and request urgent information

What to do now

1. If anyone is in immediate danger or you feel unsafe, call 999 first. If not, move to a calmer pause before continuing the conversation.

2. Write down the basics before you respond. Note the time and date, the caller’s name, organisation, phone number, email address, what they asked for, and any reference or case number.

3. Verify the contact independently before discussing details.

   • If they say they are police, end the call and dial 101 yourself, or use an official police force switchboard number you find independently. Ask to confirm the officer, department, and reference.
   • If they say they are from a court, coroner’s office, prosecution office, Procurator Fiscal, or another public body, call back through the organisation’s main published contact route, not only the number in the message.
   • If the caller objects to verification, treat that as a reason to slow down.

4. Ask three grounding questions before giving any substantial answer.

   • “What is the case reference, and which office is handling it?”
   • “What exactly do you need from the family: one decision, a document, a contact name, identification, or a statement?”
   • “What is the deadline, and what happens if we cannot respond by then?”

5. Ask for the request in writing. A genuine office can usually provide a letter or email that states the case reference, what they need, how to send it, the deadline, and a contact route you can verify independently.

6. Work out which UK system is involved.

   • In England and Wales, some deaths may involve a coroner and an inquest.
   • In Northern Ireland, some deaths may involve the Coroners Service and an inquest.
   • In Scotland, death investigations are handled by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and some cases may lead to a Fatal Accident Inquiry.
   • If you are unsure, ask: “Which nation or area is this being handled in, and which office has carriage of the case?”

7. Choose one temporary family point of contact. Pick one person to take calls, keep notes, store written requests, and pass updates to the family. This reduces repeated calls and contradictory answers.

8. Be clear about what authority you do and do not have.

   • If there is a will, check who is named as executor.
   • If there is no will, or you do not know yet, say so. Being next of kin does not always mean you have authority over the estate.
   • Use this line if needed: “I’m a family contact, but probate or administration is not in place yet. Please tell me what is urgent and whether it must come from an executor or administrator.”

9. If the contact is linked to a criminal case, ask who your safe contact is.

   • Ask whether there is a Family Liaison Officer, victim or witness contact, or named case contact.
   • Ask what information they can share now and what they cannot share yet.
   • If you are being asked for a statement or confirmation, ask for the questions in writing so you can answer accurately.

10. If the contact is linked to a coroner, inquest, or Fatal Accident Inquiry process, ask what status the family has.

• Ask who is recorded as the family point of contact.
• In England and Wales, ask whether you are being treated as an “interested person” and what that means for updates, documents, attendance, and deadlines.
• In Northern Ireland or Scotland, ask the office to explain the family’s role and any deadline in writing.

11. Protect your information while cooperating.

• Share only what is needed for the request.
• Send copies rather than originals unless a verified office explains why originals are required.
• Keep a note of what you sent, when you sent it, and who received it.

12. If you feel pushed, use a delay script that still cooperates. Say: “I want to cooperate. I need this request in writing with the reference, and I will respond once we have verified the correct contact route.”